The Supporting Disabled Entrepreneurs Act establishes a new position within the Small Business Administration’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights to coordinate support for businesses owned by individuals with disabilities. This Coordinator is tasked with developing strategies, facilitating outreach, and creating training programs to help these businesses access capital, counseling, and federal contracting opportunities. The bill requires the SBA to voluntarily collect data on the disability status of small business owners through intake forms and to publicly report on services provided to this group. Additionally, the Coordinator must hold semi-annual public meetings with stakeholders and submit a report to Congress within two years detailing program effectiveness and recommendations for further support.
The Small Business Cybersecurity Assistance Evaluation Act of 2026 directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a comprehensive study of existing federal cybersecurity initiatives, tools, and services designed to support small businesses. The investigation will assess how effectively these resources help owners identify cyber risks, prepare for threats, recover from attacks, and secure funding for security measures. Additionally, the study will evaluate the level of awareness among small business owners regarding these programs and examine how well different federal efforts are coordinated with one another. Upon completion, the findings and recommendations for improving these services will be submitted to the relevant congressional committees without authorizing any new spending.
This joint resolution seeks to disapprove a rule issued by the Small Business Administration that changes citizenship and residency requirements for 7(a) and 504 business loans. If passed, the measure would cancel the new regulations, preventing any updates to who is eligible to own or apply for these specific types of government-backed loans. The bill directly affects small business owners and lenders who might have been impacted by the proposed restrictions. By rejecting the rule, Congress intends to stop the changes from taking legal effect.
HR 915, the Small Business Technological Act of 2025, expands the use of Small Business Administration (SBA) Section 7(a) loans to cover business software, cloud computing services, and AI-powered tools that handle payroll, HR, sales, billing, accounting, and inventory management. It directly affects small businesses seeking loans for operational technology upgrades, allowing them to use SBA funds for these specific tech services without changing existing loan purposes. The bill amends the Small Business Act to explicitly permit these uses under Section 7(a), clarifying that existing loans for similar purposes before the law's enactment remain valid. It does not expand loan use for research, development, or working capital beyond current definitions.
This bill requires employees of the Small Business Administration (SBA) who process, review, or approve SBA loans to certify in writing that they have no conflicts of interest related to those loans. Specifically, employees must confirm they are unaware of any prohibited conflicts under federal law before handling a loan, disclose any new conflicts immediately, and understand existing conflict rules. The certification must be submitted prior to their involvement in loan decisions, directly affecting SBA staff managing loan approvals. The bill does not change loan terms or eligibility but adds a procedural requirement to prevent potential fraud through employee conflicts. It becomes effective 270 days after enactment, with regulations to follow within 180 days.
